New Prestige IAQ from Honeywell

Honeywell’s reconfigured and redesigned Prestige IAQ thermostat improves on the top-of-the-line thermostat which was originally released in 2008. Prestige thermostats can still combine with RedLINK wireless devices and connect to smartphones and computers remotely via Honeywell’s Internet Gateway. They are still available with high-definition color touchscreens, and still have USB ports to load saved settings and speed up repeated installations for contractors.

Current Prestige IAQ thermostats are 60% smaller than their predecessors and feature high-gloss acrylic bodies. Equipment Interface Modules now include two additional universal inputs. Honeywell plans to release three new color combinations for the thermostat frame on June 1 (in addition to the standard white already on the market). These options, along with customizable color settings for the touchscreen, allow the Prestige to match the color scheme in virtually any room. Go to SupplyHouse.com to buy the Prestige IAQ or any other Honeywell thermostat.

Mini-Split Line-Sets

You need to consider three sizes when you select a refrigerant line-set for a ductless mini-split system: the liquid-line diameter, the suction-line diameter, and the length. The necessary diameters of the liquid and suction lines depend on the requirements of the indoor mini-split unit. Liquid lines bring refrigerant back to the outdoor compressor. Suction lines supply refrigerant to the indoor unit, while preventing overheating at the compressor. SupplyHouse.com offers pre-flared, insulated JMF line-sets.

The length of your line-set should be based on the distance between the indoor and outdoor units, but make sure to look at the distance limitations of each mini-split system. All systems have maximum distance and height differences between the units, as well as a maximum refrigerant pre-charge. A typical system comes pre-charged with sufficient R-410A refrigerant for a 25-foot run, and is rated for runs up to 50 feet.  Such systems would require additional refrigerant for line-set lengths between 25 and 50 feet.

Benefits of Home-Run Plumbing

Home-run piping systems are a popular option in PEX plumbing. Home-run systems typically include single hot and cold manifolds, from which a dedicated line runs to each fixture. This configuration decreases wait times for hot and cold water and provides more balanced water pressure when multiple fixtures operate simultaneously. No fittings are needed between the manifolds and fixtures in most PEX home-runs systems. This decreases the likelihood for leaks, minimizes flow reduction, and speeds up installation. Viega’s MANABLOC manifolds combine hot and cold home-run manifolds into a single physical unit. Its valves provide centralized shut-offs for each line, and the included labels can help mark the lines. Find the MANABLOC and more PEX plumbing products on SupplyHouse.com. 

Tank vs. Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters present an alternative to conventional tank water heaters. Tankless units generally take up less space, can be mounted on a wall, and only heat water on demand. Although tank-style water heaters expend extra energy to keep their storage tanks warm at all times, they are the preferable option in many applications. Tankless heaters can provide hot water indefinitely – but only if the maximum per-minute flow rate of a unit at the required temperature rise is not exceeded. This makes them an ideal choice for homes and applications in which extended use at relatively low flow rates is the norm. Since conventional tank water heaters have a pre-heated reserve of hot water, they function more effectively when heavy bursts of simultaneous hot water usage can be anticipated. Find out more about these two methods of water heating in SupplyHouse.com’s new video, “Choosing Between Tank and Tankless Water Heaters.”